St. Mark's Church, West
Orange, New Jersey
Present: Bishop Spong, President; Bishop McKelvey,
Vice President; Mr. John Zinn, Treasurer; Mr. Michael
Francaviglia, Secretary
Bishop's Appointments: The Rev. Scott Hoogerhyde;
Mr. Michael James; Ms. Diane Kaczmarek; Mr. Russell
Murphy; The Rev. Dr. Robert A. Schiesler;
Elected by Convention: Mr. E. Kim Byham; The Rev.
Emory Byrum; Ms. Peg Dengel; The Rev. Scott Kallstrom;
The Rev. Harry Smith; Ms. Lynn Tyler
Elected by Districts: The Rev. Susan Butler; Mr.
Richard Fifield; Ms. Dorothy Gould; Mr. Scott Helsel;
The Rev. Margaret Hodgkins; The Rev. Canon Angela
Ifill; MsLindquist; Ms. Dagi Murphy; Mr. Christopher
Neglia; The Rev. Isaac Persaud; Mr. Junius Powell;
Mr. Robert Simmons; The Rev. Steven Steele; Ms. Nancy
Weidbrauk; Mrs. Virginia Whitehouse
Absent: Mr. Steven Boston; The Rev. Kevin P.J. Coffey;
Mrs. Patricia Cumberbatch; The Rev. William Lantz;
The Rev. Mark Lewis; The Rev. Kenneth Near; The Rev.
William Parnell; Mr. Michael F. Rehill; Ms. Mary
Sunden; The Rev. Dr. Franklin Vilas. On leave of
absence: The Rev. Lawrence Falkowski
Others present: The Rev. William Riker, Mrs. Kathleen
Ballard.
A tour of the House of the Holy Comforter was made
available for members prior to the start of the Council
activities. The HHC had undergone renovation and
construction of an expanded facility.
The Rev. Carol Burnside, Vicar, introduced the parishioners
responsible for the meal led by warden Valda Wright
- Stacey, Robert, Carol, Mary, Ruth, Eileen, Vernstein,
Sylvia and Lyn. She reported on the history of the
church, one of the oldest in the diocese; mid-nineteenth
century construction. A previous rector led a session
attempt from the diocese that was unsuccessful. Members
were described as committed to the church. Sunday
services were described as welcoming and warm.
The meeting was called to order at 7:15 p.m. by
Bishop Spong.
AGENDA
It was moved and seconded to adopt the agenda with
additional comments by Canon Ifill and Ms. Dengel.
The motion was adopted.
MINUTES
It was moved and seconded to accept the minutes
for the March 11, 1998, meeting. The motion to accept
the minutes was adopted.
EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATIONS: THE RT. REV. JOHN S.
SPONG
Expressed thanks to those members able to tour the
House of the Holy Comforter, an assisted living care
facility for senior citizens. The name will be changed
to Canterbury Village. The old facility capacity
was limited to twelve female occupants. The new building
was designed with 38 housing units and capable of
serving both genders.
Welcomed Dorothy Gould to her first meeting since
her election at the 1998 Convention, and Kathleen
Ballard, reporting on ECW in the absence of Clara
Horsley.
Announced the Standing Committee approved the following
candidates for ordination to the diaconate: Maylin
Biggadike, Cooper Conway, Michael Delaney, Lucy Ann
Dure, and Dana Rose. Robert Cristie-Troutman was
ordained two weeks ago to the priesthood. The new
deacons will work with Orion Davis and Elaine Kebba
during the next year.
Task Force on Deaf Ministry
Reminded members that a convention resolution called
for the establishment of a task force on deaf ministry.
He asked for two volunteers from Council to join
the task force. The task force would look at the
possibilities for ministry to the deaf and to establish
their priorities within the program life and budget
process of the diocese.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Mr. Zinn presented verbally the Treasurer's Report.
(The written report was not ready in time for distribution
at the meeting, because this meeting was held on
the first day of the month.)
Special Convention Fees
Mr. John Zinn moved the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the costs of the 1998 Special Convention
be paid out of surplus funds from the 1997 and 1998
Diocesan Conventions.
He explained that the projected cost for the Special
Convention was $13,500. This amount did not include
the cost of the election consultant, equipment and
supplies. These costs were to be paid out of the
funds reserved for the nomination and election process.
There were surpluses from the 1997 and 1998 Diocesan
Conventions. The costs of the Diocesan Convention
was paid entirely by the fees paid by the churches.
The 1997 surplus was approximately $8,600. The 1998
surplus was currently in excess of $10,000, but there
was still the possibility of further adjustments.
It was recommended that these surpluses be applied
to the cost of the Special Convention. Any remaining
surplus will then be used to offset the 1999 Diocesan
Convention fee.
In the unlikely event that the costs of the Special
Convention exceeded the available funds, a retrospective
fee will be billed to the churches. The Call to Convention
will mention this possibility.
The motion was adopted.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN
Mrs. Kathleen Ballard reported that the World of
Women conference was held last weekend; over 60 women
were honored. A choir fest was scheduled for May
3 at Trinity + St. Philip's Cathedral.
STEERING COMMITTEE - COUNCIL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Ms. Dagi Murphy announced that assignments were
made and distributed to the members. She reminded
members to complete and return the talent inventory
form.
STEERING COMMITTEE - NATIONAL CHURCH COMMITTEES
Mr. E. Kim Byham reported on the Minneapolis conference
of the interim bodies of the National Church. The
conference was held on March 20-23. The event permitted
members of different committees to interact. 250-350
persons attended the four-day conference. Diocesan
members, Marge Christie, Petero Sabune, Louie Crew,
and Kim, were on several of the national committees.
JERSEY CITY MINISTRY
The Rev. William Riker presented a status report
on the plans of Jersey City Strategy which contained
the resolutions listed below.
The Rev. Steven Steele moved the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the recommendations of the Jersey
City Area Council (JCAC) and the Jersey City Strategy
Committee (JCSC) shall govern the allocation of funds
collected and held from the sale of Church properties,
real and chattel, in Jersey City. Two thirds of funds
collected shall be for the benefit of the developing
congregation and one third shall be used for aspects
of ministry recommended by the JCAC and approved
by Diocesan Council. Both division of funds shall
have the approval of the Diocesan Council.
The motion was adopted.
The Rev. Harry Smith moved the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the diocesan Chief Financial Officer
be authorized to issue payments of up to $35,000
from funds held for the benefit of new congregational
development in Jersey City. The disbursements will
allow the evaluative, planning, and design processes
associated with the purchase and improvement of property
located on Cator Avenue in Jersey City.
Allocation of the $35,000 which were needed for
the complete evaluation for the property to be used
by the developing congregation (to be names St. Augustine's)
in southern Jersey City were projected to be:
Architectural planning ($6,000)
Environmental studies ($4,000)
Government fees/permits ($6,000)
Site planning ($5,000)
Surveying ($8,000)
Miscellaneous/Next Steps ($6,000)
The motion was adopted.
Agenda Additions
Canon Ifill registered her concerns that a person
of color was not among the candidates on the slate
of nominees for bishop coadjutor, and that none had
reported significant work in the field of anti-racism.
She was dismayed that the list did not include the
Bishop Suffragan who had worked passionately on anti-racism
issues and dialogue.
Ms. Peg Dengel requested that the schedule of meetings
for the Companion Diocese Relationship Committee
be published in the Voice.
After a brief discussion on the issue of meeting
cancellations when planned agendas were not demanding,
it was the consensus that Council meetings should
not be canceled, because late breaking situations
could develop needing immediate action.
The benediction was pronounced by The Rev. Emory
Byrum.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Francaviglia
Secretary
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